System and method for closed-loop driver attention management

ABSTRACT

A method and system may manage the driver&#39;s attention while driving. The driver may be driving using an autonomous driving system or limited-ability autonomous driving system. A method may detect, by a sensor, characteristics of a driver; determine, based on the detected characteristics of the driver, whether the driver exercises sufficient supervisory control of the vehicle; and provide a series of one or more prompts, wherein each prompt&#39;s intrusiveness is related to the determination of whether the driver exercises sufficient supervisory control of the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/560,874, filed Nov. 17, 2011,and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to methods and systems to interfacewith and influence a driver and the driver's supervisory role in anautonomous driving system such as a limited-ability autonomous driving(LAAD) system.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles may be equipped with limited-ability autonomous and/orsemi-autonomous driving systems, embodiments, and/or features.Autonomous and semi-autonomous driving systems may provide automateddriving controls that reduce the driver interaction required foroperating the vehicle. Automated lane following systems for example, maybe activated by the driver while the vehicle is in motion, and maymaintain the vehicle position in a lane. LAAD systems may reduce driverfatigue and increase safety by maintaining the vehicle position withrespect to the road, and other conditions relevant to driving, withreduced driver input, compared to manual driving.

Safety considerations may be taken into account when designing LAADsystems. In order to conform to safety requirements, LAAD systems may beoverridden by the driver at any time. When the driver overrides thevehicle lane following system, for example, the system relinquishes fullsteering control of the vehicle to the driver. However, while a LAADsystem is controlling the vehicle, the driver may forget or not realizethat the LAAD lacks the ability to handle certain driving situations.Some systems employ driver monitoring systems and may also inform thedriver of their attentiveness to the vehicle through a display orindicator. However, these displays may distract the driver and lower thedriver's attentiveness to the driving task. Other systems similar toforward collision warning systems may attempt to attract attract adistracted driver's attention to the road, but may activate based onlyon external event triggers such as another fast approaching vehicle. Asystem may be needed that both avoids distracting the driver andincreases the driver's attentiveness and control of the vehicle—a systemthat can operate constantly without regard to external triggeringevents, and activates only as necessary to maintain a minimum level ofdriver attention.

SUMMARY

A method and system may manage the driver's attention while driving. Thedriver may be driving using an autonomous driving system orlimited-ability autonomous driving system. A method may detect, by asensor, characteristics of a driver; determine, based on the detectedcharacteristics of the driver, whether the driver exercises sufficientsupervisory control of the vehicle; and provide a series of one or moreprompts, wherein each prompt's intrusiveness is related to thedetermination of whether the driver exercises sufficient supervisorycontrol of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.Embodiments of the invention, however, both as to organization andmethod of operation, together with objects, features, and advantagesthereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle with a system according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is a schematic of a vehicle employing a closed-loop drivervisual attention management system according to embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 b is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention; and,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the followingdiscussions, throughout the specification discussions utilizing termssuch as “processing,” “computing,” “storing,” “calculating,”“determining,” “evaluating,” “measuring,” “providing,” “transferring,”“outputting,” “inputting,” or the like, refer to the action and/orprocesses of a computer or computing system, or similar electroniccomputing device, that manipulates and/or transforms data represented asphysical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system'sregisters and/or memories into other data similarly represented asphysical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers orother such information storage, transmission or display devices.

An autonomous driving system may be a driving system that includes oneor more autonomous elements that control vehicle movement on a road,rendering the vehicle fully autonomous (e.g., no driver input or controlrequired) or partially autonomous (e.g., some driver input or controlrequired for safe driving). Limited-ability, autonomous,semi-autonomous, automated, or automatic driving control features (e.g.,automated lane following, adaptive lane following, adaptive cruisecontrol, etc.) may maintain or control the position and speed of avehicle with respect to the road and other vehicles and obstacles on theroad with reduced driver input (e.g., reduced or no driver steeringwheel movement or accelerator and brake pedal control). In order tocomply with safety requirements, however, the driver will need tomonitor the performance of the system for safety, due to technologicallimitations of the sensor systems used by the automated control systems.Further, the driver may need to regain full control of the vehicledriving controls and deactivate or disengage the driving system.Additionally, in order to help the driver maintain a supervisory role,the driver may need to be reminded periodically of the drivingconditions surrounding the vehicle.

A driver interface for a LAAD system may therefore be required tofunction during all driving scenarios to provide different levels ofcues, reminders or prompts to the driver, such that the driver maymaintain a supervisory role during the entire operation of the vehicle.

The driver may also need to regain control of the vehicle, for example,when a lane sensing driving system may make errors which cause thevehicle to depart the lane or road, to avoid an unexpected obstacle,when another vehicle swerves into the driver's lane, when an obstaclelies in front of the vehicle, when the vehicle comes into closeproximity with a guardrail, the driver switches lanes, or in othercircumstances that may require the driver's attention. The driver mayalso need to constantly stay in a supervisory role of the vehicle,independent of conditions outside or within the vehicle. A driver may bedeemed to maintain supervision or sufficient control of a vehicle whenthe driver contemporaneously responds to a driving cue. The driving cuemay be external or internal, and a contemporaneous response may be aresponse that is within seconds (e.g. 1, 2, 2.5, or 3 seconds).

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a LAAD system,or any other driving system known in the art, may be equipped with asteering wheel that produces or includes lights, or is lit (entirely, ora portion thereof) by a light internal to the steering wheel, or inother embodiments, by a light that may be external to the steeringwheel. In some embodiments, the steering wheel may be lit or producelight to indicate to the driver the level of autonomy or controlemployed by an automated driving system. In some embodiments, thesteering wheel may be lit or produce light, to indicate to the driverthe level of supervisory control necessary by the driver to operate thevehicle while the vehicle is employing a LAAD system, or another drivingsystem known in the art.

Typically, the steering wheel may be lit or produce light, with adistinct color, pattern or colored pattern for each level of autonomyemployed by the autonomous driving system. In some embodiments, thesteering wheel may be lit or produce light, with a distinct color,pattern or colored pattern to indicate to the driver the level ofsupervisory control necessary to safely operate the vehicle while thevehicle is employing a LAAD system, or another driving system known inthe art.

In some embodiments, the light illuminating the steering wheel maypulse, flash, or blink at varied intervals, or at different intensities,or consistent frequencies, in different spatial pattern, to indicate thelevel of autonomy employed by the LAAD system, or another driving systemknown in the art. The intervals and frequencies at which the lightilluminates may produce apparent motion.

In some embodiments, the light illuminating the steering wheel maypulse, flash or blink at varied intervals or at different intensities orfrequencies or different spatial patterns to indicate the level ofsupervisory control necessary on the part of the driver to operate thevehicle, while the vehicle is employing a LAAD system, or anotherdriving system known in the art.

In some embodiments, the entirety of the steering wheel may be lit orproduce light. In other embodiments, only a top portion of the steeringwheel may be lit or produce light. This top portion of the steeringwheel may be between 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock e.g., between 11 o'clockand 1 o'clock. Other ranges may be used.

In some embodiments, a vehicle may be equipped with a closed-loop drivervisual attention management (DVAM) system. Typically, a closed-loop DVAMsystem may contain an emitter that emits or signals an alert to thedriver. The emitter may be a light emitting device that may emit one ormore brief flashes of light in the direction of the peripheral vision ofthe driver who may be looking away from the road. Typically, the lightmay be emitted for a short duration or time period, the light emitterconfigured such that the light emitter may no longer be emitting lightby the time the driver responds to the light, and turns to look towardthe light.

In some embodiments, the light may be configured such that the light isperceived to be emanating from the windshield of the vehicle. In otherembodiments, the light emitter may be configured to emit light such thatthe driver sees a reflection of the light in the windshield. In otherembodiments, the light may be perceived by the driver to be on thedashboard of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the light emitter may beconfigured to emit light such that the driver sees the reflection of thelight on a component of the vehicle. In other embodiments, the lightemitter may be configured so that the driver sees the actual lightemitted by the light emitter. The light may be emitted from a dedicatedlight emitting component, or from an existing display, such as aHeads-Up Display that reflects off of the windshield.

Typically, the closed-loop DVAM system may further include sensors thatdetect whether the driver has looked toward the emitted light, or itsreflection. These sensors may look at driver eye-gaze, driver headposition, or both, or other characteristics that are indicative of thefocus of the driver's visual attention.

In some embodiments, a vehicle may be equipped with a conveniencemessaging system that at a given interval, for example every 5 minutes(other intervals may be used) provides a tone, an audio message, visualmessage, an audiovisual message, or a tone and a message to the driverregarding road conditions, driving conditions, or other items that maybe of interest to the driver. Other items of interest may include nearbyor upcoming points of interest such as a rest area or food, or thequality of cellular reception in the vicinity, for example.

In some embodiments, the convenience messaging system may be incommunication with multiple sensors associated with the vehicle.Typically, the convenience messaging system, in response to changingroad or driving conditions, or in response to other instances where itmay be determined that the driver needs to take a more supervisory role,may provide a tone, a audio, visual or audiovisual message, or a toneand a message to the driver. Typically, the message may relate to theinformation collected by the sensors.

In some embodiments of the invention, the convenience messaging systemmay be a closed-loop system. After providing the tone or message or boththe tone and message to the driver, the convenience messaging system maywait for a response from the driver. This waiting period may be between3 and 5 seconds. Other ranges may be used. Typically, the response fromthe driver may include looking toward the source of the tone and/ormessage. In some embodiments, a sensor may determine whether the driverhas looked toward the source of the tone or the message. In otherembodiments, the convenience messaging system may require a responsefrom the driver in the form of a positive affirmation. Typically, thepositive affirmation may be a verbal response. In other embodiments thepositive affirmation may be an action with the hands, arms, feet orother body part. The response could also include looking to the roadfollowing a look to the message, or another type of gaze pattern orsignature. Audio sensors may be included to assess the driver's verbalresponse. In other embodiments, the affirmation may be a touch responseto the steering wheel, the accelerator or a separate foot switch orelbow switch as are known in the art. Sensors may be included to assessthe driver's response. In other embodiments, the affirmative responsemay include an interaction with a secondary vehicle system, including,but not limited to a radio system, an audio or entertainment system, atouch screen, a Bluetooth coupled cellular telephone or device, or aturn signal. In other embodiments, the affirmative response may bedetermined by a change in the driver's heart rate, breathing rate,temperature or other biological responses. Sensors may be included toassess the driver's response.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle may be equippedwith a staged or sequenced alerting system, the system designed toassess a driver's current supervisory role in controlling the vehicle,and provide a staged range of intrusive or urgent cues or promptsconfigured to obtain a greater supervisory role by the driver of thevehicle. In some embodiments, the staged range of increasingly intrusiveor urgent cues or prompts is configured to confirm the driver's currentsupervisory role in operating the vehicle.

Typically, the staged alerting system may be triggered if a drivermonitoring system detects a less than adequate response from the driverin response to a cue or prompt, typically from the closed-loop DVAMsystem and the convenience messaging system. In some embodiments of thepresent invention, the staged alerting system may be triggered if thedriver monitoring system determines that the driver's supervisory rolein operating the vehicle is less than adequate given detected conditionsby sensors in the vehicle and/or outside of the vehicle. In someembodiments, the staged alerting system may be triggered at a setinterval. In some embodiments, the staged alerting system may betriggered if the current conditions—as determined by sensors associatedwith the vehicle, including RADAR systems, cameras and other sensorsknown in the art are or are about to go outside the bounds of operationof the LAAD system, or another driving system known in the art, and/orthe LAAD system, or another driving system known in the art, needs inputfrom the driver, or needs the driver to take greater than currentcontrol over the vehicle.

In some embodiments of the current invention, the staged alerting systeminitially provides one or more attention cues or prompts. For example,the staged alerting system may provide a brief flash of light in thedirection of the peripheral vision of the driver from a light emitter(for example similar to what is described elsewhere with respect to theclosed-loop DVAM system).

The staged alerting system may detect a response, or lack of response tothe emitted light, similar to the detection of responses that aredescribed with respect to the closed-loop DVAM system. If the stagedalerting system determines that the driver does not respond to the oneor more attention cues or prompts, or in some embodiments, if the stagedalerting system detects that the response to the one or more attentioncues or prompts is insufficient, given current conditions, then thestaged alerting system may provide a more intrusive or urgent cue orprompt to the driver.

In some embodiments, the staged alerting system provides a shortduration or time interval for a response to the cues or prompts,typically, this short interval for a response may be from 3 to 7seconds. Other ranges may be used. In some embodiments, the stagedalerting system may require a response indicative of the driver taking agreater role in controlling the vehicle; typically, this may includetouching the steering wheel or the accelerator or brake pedals. In someembodiments, the staged alerting system may require a response from thedriver indicating that the driver has taken full control of the vehicle,interacting with the accelerator and or brake pedals or moving thesteering wheel. Other interactions involving secondary control systemsin the vehicle, including interacting with the navigation system orglobal positioning system (GPS) system or the turn signals, or othersecondary systems known in the art, may also be assessed by the stagedalerting system in determining the appropriate response from the driverin response to cues or prompts.

In some embodiments, a more intrusive or urgent cue or prompt mayinclude one or more non-visual cues or prompts. Typically, thenon-visual cues or prompts may be a haptic cue or prompt from thedriver's seat, steering wheel, other component of the vehicle, or acombination thereof Haptic cues or prompts may include shaking orvibrating of the seat or the steering wheel or other cues or promptsknown in the art. In some embodiments, the staged alerting system mayalso, in addition to the haptic cue or prompt, or instead of the hapticcue or prompt, provide an audible or other non-visual cue or prompt, asare known in the art. If the staged alerting system determines that thedriver does not respond to the non-visual cue or prompt, or in someembodiments, if the staged alerting system detects that the response tothe non-visual cue or prompt is insufficient, then the staged alertingsystem may provide a more intrusive or urgent cue or prompt to thedriver.

In some embodiments, a more intrusive or urgent cue or prompt followinga non-visual cue or prompt may include one or more speech or earcon(e.g., a brief, distinctive sound used to represent a specific event orconvey other information) cues or prompts. Typically, a speech cue orprompt may include a direct command or question to the driver. In someembodiments, the speech or earcon cue or prompt may be generated throughthe speakers in the vehicle. In some embodiments, the speech or earconcue or prompt may be generated through a cellular telephone that may becoupled to the vehicle, e.g., via a Bluetooth communication connection.Other audio outputs may be used as well. If the staged alerting systemdetermines that the driver does not respond to the speech or earcon cueor prompt, or in some embodiments, if the staged alerting system detectsthat the response to the speech or earcon cue or prompt is insufficient,then the staged alerting system may provide a more intrusive or urgentcue or prompt to the driver. Additionally the vehicle's LAAD system, oranother driving system known in the art, may not reengage unless theignition in the vehicle is cycled from on to off to on again. In someembodiments, the vehicle's LAAD system may not reengage unless apredetermined time interval has passed.

In some embodiments, a more intrusive or urgent cue or prompt followinga speech or earcon cue or prompt may include a reduction in thevehicle's speed. Typically, in a reduction of the vehicle's speed, thestaged alerting system may disengage normal control of the LAAD system,or another driving system known in the art, and may further begin toslow the vehicle. In some embodiments, the reduction in speed may belimited, for example, to between 10 and 30 miles per hour (mph) belowthe prevailing traffic speed. Other ranges may be used. In someembodiments, the staged alerting system may move the vehicle to the sideof the road and stop, or pulse the brakes as the vehicle is slowed, orbring the vehicle to a complete stop in the road. Typically, once thevehicle has come to a complete stop, the vehicle's LAAD system, oranother driving system known in the art, may not reengage unless theignition in the vehicle is cycled from on to off to on again. In someembodiments, the vehicle's LAAD system may not reengage unless apredetermined time interval has passed.

The stages described may be changed in order, have the required responsetimes to cues or prompts shortened, lengthened, or have cues or promptseliminated entirely within the staged alerting system, depending on thesystem needs, and conditions within the vehicle or outside the vehicleor both, as determined by vehicle sensors known in the art.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 10 with an automatic vehiclecontrol system. In some embodiments, the driving system is anotherdriving system known in the art. Vehicle 10 (e.g., a car, truck, oranother vehicle) may be driven by driver 5. Vehicle 10 may include asteering wheel 20. Steering wheel 20 may include one or more lightsources 30. Light source 30 may be within the housing of the steeringwheel. In some embodiments, light source 30 may be on the outsidesurface of the steering wheel. In some embodiments, light source 30 maybe extraneous to steering wheel 20, shining a light on steering wheel 20from a separate location. In some embodiments, an extraneous lightsource may be on the dashboard of vehicle 10. In some embodiments, lightsource 30, or an additional light source, may illuminate othercomponents of the vehicle, typically the dashboard. In otherembodiments, light source 30, or an additional light, source mayilluminate a heads up display and/or the instrument panel behindsteering wheel 20. The details for extraneous light source or additionallight source may be similar to those of light source 30.

In some embodiments, steering wheel 20 may be illuminated by lightsource 30 over a given portion of the steering wheel. Typically, theportion illuminated by light source 30 may be between 10 o'clock and 2o'clock, e.g., between 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock on steering wheel 20.Other ranges may be used.

Light source 30 may be light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers,incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs or others sources of light asare known in the art. The light source may be an already installed headsup display. In some embodiments, the light emitted from light source 30may be different colors, patterns or colored patterns. These colors,patterns, or colored patterns typically may represent the currentrelative level of autonomous driving employed by LAAD system 50, oranother driving system known in the art, in vehicle 10. In someembodiments, the colors, patterns, or colored patterns may be indicativeof the level of a driver's control over vehicle 10.

Typically steering wheel 20 may be lit or produce light via light source30 with a distinct color, pattern or colored pattern for each level ofautonomy employed by LAAD system 50, or another driving system known inthe art. In some embodiments, steering wheel 20 may be lit, or producelight via light source 30, with a distinct color, pattern or coloredpattern to indicate to a driver 5 the level of supervisory controlnecessary to operate vehicle 10 while the vehicle is employing LAADsystem 50, or another driving system known in the art.

Typically, LAAD system 50, or another driving system known in the art,is coupled to, and communicates with, light source 30. In someembodiments, a driver prompt system 60 is coupled to, and communicateswith, LAAD system 50, or another driving system known in the art, andcoupled to, and in communication with, light source 30.

Driver prompt system 60 may include one or more databases 62, which mayinclude, for example, various stages of driver 5 and/or LAAD system 50controls. Databases 62 may be stored all or partly in one or both ofmemory 64, long term storage 66, or another device.

A processor or controller 68, typically a central processing unit (CPU),may be a chip or any suitable computing or computational device.Processor or controller 68 may include multiple processors, and mayinclude general-purpose processors and/or dedicated processors such asgraphics processing chips. Processor 68 may execute code orinstructions, for example, stored in memory 64 or long-term storage 66,to carry out embodiments of the present invention.

Memory 64 may be or may include, for example, a Random Access Memory(RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a Dynamic RAM (DRAM), a SynchronousDRAM (SD-RAM), a double data rate (DDR) memory chip, a Flash memory, avolatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a cache memory, a buffer, ashort term memory unit, a long term memory unit, or other suitablememory units or storage units. Memory 64 may be or may include multiplememory units.

Long term storage 66 may be or may include, for example, a hard diskdrive, a floppy disk drive, a Compact Disk (CD) drive, a CD-Recordable(CD-R) drive, a universal serial bus (USB) device or other suitableremovable and/or fixed storage unit, and may include multiple or acombination of such units.

In some embodiments, light source 30 illuminating steering wheel 20 maypulse, flash, or blink at intermittent intervals or at differentintensities, or consistent frequencies, to indicate the level ofautonomy employed by LAAD system 50, or another driving system known inthe art. In some embodiments, light source 30 illuminating steeringwheel 20 may pulse, flash, or blink at intermittent intervals or atdifferent intensities or consistent frequencies in conjunction with theoperation of another system within vehicle 10, as known in the art.

In some embodiments, light source 30 illuminating steering wheel 20 maypulse or flash at intermittent intervals or at different intensities orfrequencies to indicate the level of supervisory control necessary tosafely operate the vehicle while vehicle 10 is employing LAAD system 50,or another driving system known in the art. In some embodiments, thecolors, patterns, or colored patterns may be indicative of the level ofthe control driver 5 has over vehicle 10.

In some embodiments, there are four distinct colors, patterns, orcolored patterns representing four modes of supervisory control bydriver 5 of vehicle 10. Other colors or different numbers of colors maybe used.

(1) Disengaged—LAAD system 50, or another driving system known in theart, is not controlling the lateral motion of vehicle 10. Driver 5 isresponsible for steering.

(2) Engaged and operating—LAAD system 50, or another driving systemknown in the art, is controlling the lateral motion of vehicle 10.

(3) Override—LAAD system 50, or another driving system known in the art,has temporarily relinquished control of steering to driver 5, but isprepared to resume control.

(4) Failure—LAAD system 50, or another driving system known in the art,is controlling the lateral motion of vehicle 10 to the best of itsability, but some condition has developed that requires driver 5 to takecontrol immediately.

In some embodiments, there may be other, different, more or fewer modesof supervisory control.

Light source 30 may be typically coupled to LAAD system 50, or anotherdriving system known in the art. In response to a change in the level ofautonomy provided by the LAAD system 50, the LAAD system 50, or othersystem in vehicle 10, may send a signal to light source 30 to change thecolor, pattern or colored pattern of the light, or frequency andintensity of the light to illuminate steering wheel 20.

In some embodiments, LAAD system 50 and/or driver prompt system 60 maybe configured to illuminate steering wheel 20 only while LAAD system 50,or another driving system known in the art, is engaged. In someembodiments, steering wheel 20 may be illuminated even while LAAD system50, or another driving system known in the art, is not engaged.

FIG. 2 a is a schematic diagram of vehicle 10 employing a monitoringsystem, according to some embodiments of the present invention.Typically, a closed-loop DVAM system may be maintained in a standbystate until activated. In some embodiments, the closed-loop DVAM systemmay include one or more software programs executed by one or morehardware systems in vehicle 10.

Typically, the monitoring system (e.g., a close loop eye gazingmonitoring system or another system) may include a control unit 160.Control unit 160 may include a processor or controller 68 and one ormore databases 62. One or more databases 62 may include, for example,various scenarios when a driver may need to be cued or prompted.Databases 62 may be stored all or partly in one or both of memory 64,long term storage 66, or another device.

Processor or controller 68 may be, for example, a central processingunit (CPU), a chip or any suitable computing or computational device.Processor or controller 68 may include multiple processors, and mayinclude general-purpose processors and/or dedicated processors such asgraphics processing chips. Processor 68 may execute code orinstructions, for example, stored in memory 64 or long-term storage 66,to carry out embodiments of the present invention.

Memory 64 may be or may include, for example, a Random Access Memory(RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a Dynamic RAM (DRAM), a SynchronousDRAM (SD-RAM), a double data rate (DDR) memory chip, a Flash memory, avolatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a cache memory, a buffer, ashort term memory unit, a long term memory unit, or other suitablememory units or storage units. Memory 64 may be or may include multiplememory units.

Long term storage 66 may be or may include, for example, a hard diskdrive, a floppy disk drive, a Compact Disk (CD) drive, a CD-Recordable(CD-R) drive, a universal serial bus (USB) device or other suitableremovable and/or fixed storage unit, and may include multiple or acombination of such units.

A light source 110, typically a LED, a Light Amplification by StimulatedEmission of Radiation (laser) device, incandescent bulb, florescentbulb, digital light projection, or other light source known in the art,may be configured to flash briefly one or more times, providing anillumination, in response to a signal from control unit 160, which, inturn, may be in response to a signal from a LAAD system 50, or anothersystem, in vehicle 10. In some embodiments of the present invention,there may one or more light sources. Typically, each of potentiallyseveral brief flashes of light lasts between 50 and 500 milliseconds.Other ranges may be used. The brief flashes of light, providing anillumination, may be configured to attract the driver's attentionwithout distracting the driver. In some embodiments of the currentinvention, the duration of the brief flashes of light providing anillumination may be configured to be short enough in duration or time tobe only subtly perceived. In other embodiments, the duration of thebrief flashes of light providing an illumination may be sufficient todistract the driver. In some embodiments, the brief flashes may be nolonger visible by the time the driver has enough time to react to thebrief flash or flashes, for example, in turning the driver's head towardthe source, or the perceived source, of the flashes of light.

Typically, control unit 160, and/or LAAD system 50, and/or anothersystem known in the art, in vehicle 10 is configured to send a signal tolight source 110 to flash the brief flash of light providing anillumination, such that the light may be visible to the driver as alight, or a reflection of the light, on the windshield. In someembodiments, the light may emit from an already installed heads updisplay, and reflect on the windshield. In some embodiments, the briefflash of light may be configured to direct the gaze of the driver towardthe center of the windshield. In some embodiments, the brief flash oflight may be configured to direct the attention of the driver to adirection not in the center of the windshield, in response to a signalfrom an external vehicle sensor, for example, in response to a vehiclesensor that indicates a foreign object that may be of interest to thedriver's supervisory role in controlling the vehicle.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the closed-loopDVAM system may be configured to perform flashes of a brief light fromlight source 110 periodically. In some embodiments, the periodic flashof light may be configured to occur after a certain interval of time,independent of data collected from sensors of vehicle 10 regardinginternal and/or external conditions.

In some embodiments, the closed-loop DVAM system may be configured toflash a brief light from light source 110 periodically only while LAADsystem 50, or another driving system known in the art, is engaged. Insome embodiments, the closed-loop DVAM system may be configured to flasha brief light from light source 110, periodically, even while LAADsystem 50, or another driving system known in the art, is not engaged.

In other embodiments, the closed-loop DVAM system may be configured toflash a brief light from light source 110, providing an illumination, inresponse to a foreign object of interest or a change in drivingconditions, or a particular direction that may be of interest to thedriver's supervisory role in controlling the vehicle. In someembodiments, the closed-loop DVAM system may be configured to flash abrief light from light source 110 in the direction of interest to thedriver, as determined by the closed-loop DVAM system, or other systemsin vehicle 10, which may be coupled to the closed-loop DVAM system.

Typically, sensors coupled to the closed-loop DVAM system may beconfigured to determine, via one or more sensors, e.g., sensor 130, asare known in the art, if the driver has looked away from the road for atime period that is calculated by the closed-loop gaze monitoringsystem, or other driving system known in the art, to be too long. Insome embodiments, the time period that is considered too long isdynamically calculated by the closed-loop DVAM system, or other systemsin vehicle 10.

In some embodiments, the closed-loop DVAM system may have at least oneor more sensors configured to determine if the driver has responded tothe prompt, here a brief flash of light, and, in some embodiments, todetermine the sufficiency of the driver's response to the brief flash oflight.

In some embodiments, the sensor may be coupled to a driver monitoringsystem 120 and/or control unit 160, which typically includes sensor 130.In some embodiments, sensor 130 is a camera. Sensor 130 may beconfigured to be directed at the driver's eyes and/or head when thedriver is looking forward toward the windshield of the vehicle. Sensor130 may be configured to be directed at the driver's eyes and/or headwhen the driver is looking toward the object of interest, as determinedby sensors and systems on vehicle 10. Other sensors known in the artthat are capable of assessing the driver's gaze or head position mayalso be part of the driver monitoring system 120. The closed-loop DVAMsystem may be configured to sense a movement of the driver's head and oreyes in response to the brief flash of light from light source 110, viadriver monitoring system 120. In some embodiments, sensor 130 may detectthe movement of the driver's head toward the brief flash of light. Inresponse to the detection of the driver's head moving, a signal may besent to driver monitoring system 120, indicating that the driver hasresponded to the brief flash of light. If sensor 130 fails to detect themovement of the driver's head in the direction of the flash of light, asignal may be sent to the driver monitoring system 120, and or controlunit 160. In response to this signal, the driver monitoring system 120and/or control unit 160 may be configured to send a signal to lightsource 110 to flash additional brief flashes of light. In someembodiments, these further flashes of light may be more intrusive orurgent, for example, it may be at a greater intensity or for a longerduration than the original flash of light. The closed-loop DVAM systemmay determine if the driver has responded to the subsequent prompt,e.g., the more intrusive and/or urgent brief flash of light, and, insome embodiments, to determine if the driver failed to respond to thesubsequent brief flash of light. In some embodiments, after the driverhas failed to respond to the first brief flash of light, a signal may besent to the staged alerting system, described with reference to FIG. 4,or other systems associated with vehicle 10.

In some embodiments, the closed-loop DVAM system may be enabled onlywhile LAAD system 50, or another driving system known in the art, isengaged. In some embodiments, the closed-loop DVAM system may beconfigured to be enabled even while LAAD system 50, or another drivingsystem known in the art, is not engaged.

FIG. 2 b is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The operations in the flow chart may be carried outby a staged alerting system, or by other systems, associated with, orseparate from, a vehicle.

Typically, data may be collected by one or more sensors in vehicle 10,as represented by parallelogram 600. In some embodiments, the sensorsare similar to sensors 130. The data collected by the sensors typicallyrelates to whether the driver is paying attention or not payingattention to the roadway, or has looked away from a roadway on whichvehicle 10 is traveling. In some embodiments, the data collected relatesto other instances of driver supervisory control. In some embodiments,the data collected relates to the level of confidence LAAD system 50, orother driving systems known in the art, has with the current conditionsas reflected in the data collected by the sensors.

The closed-loop DVAM system, as described with reference to FIG. 2 a, oranother system in vehicle 10, determines if the data collected, asrepresented by parallelogram 600, indicates that driver 5 is notexercising sufficient supervisory control; the determination is depictedby block 610. It may be determined if, given the data, and theconfidence level that LAAD system 50, or another driving system as knownin the art, has with the current conditions, the supervisory controlemployed by driver 5 is sufficient; the determination is depicted byblock 610.

The closed-loop DVAM system may determine whether or not driver 5 hasbeen looking away from the roadway for too long. This behavior mayindicate a lack of supervisory control. In some embodiments, thedetermination may be related to the confidence level LAAD system 50, orother driving systems known in the art, has with the current conditions.

If the closed-loop DVAM system determines that driver 5 has not beenlooking away from the roadway for too long, or, in some embodiments, ifLAAD system 50, or another driving system known in the art, determinesthat the supervisory control employed by driver 5 is sufficient, thenthe closed-loop DVAM system, or other systems known in the art, cyclesto stand-by, as depicted by oval 630. If, however, the closed-loop DVAMsystem determines that driver 5 has been looking away from the roadwayfor too long, or, in some embodiments, determines that driver 5 is notexercising sufficient supervisory control given the confidence levelthat LAAD system 50, or another driving system known in the art, haswith the current conditions, then the closed-loop eye gaze monitoringsystem, or another system known in the art, may provide a prompt orsignal. For example, a brief flash of light, as described above withreference to FIG. 2 a and as depicted in block 640, may be provided.

The closed-loop DVAM system typically may then determine if driver 5 hassufficiently responded to the brief flashes of light (e.g., by payingmore attention to the road, by moving his gaze to the road, or otheractions), as depicted in diamond 650. In some embodiments, driver 5 hassufficiently responded to the brief flash of light when driver 5 lookstoward the light. If the closed-loop DVAM system determines that driver5 has sufficiently responded to the brief flash of light then theclosed-loop DVAM system may cycle to standby, as depicted oval 660. Insome embodiments, the closed-loop DVAM system may use sensors, asdescribed above, with reference to parallelogram 600, to determine ifthe response of driver 5 to the brief flash of light was sufficient.

If the closed-loop DVAM system determines that the driver has notsufficiently responded to the brief flash of light, then the closed loopDVAM system may flash a second brief flash of light, as depicted byblock 670. In some embodiments, this second brief flash of light may bemore intrusive than the previous brief flash of light, as describedearlier with reference to FIG. 2 a.

If the closed-loop eye gaze monitoring system determines, as depicted bydiamond 675, that the response of driver 5 to the brief flash of lightwas sufficient, which may be similar to what was described above withreference to diamond 650, then the closed-loop eye gaze monitoringsystem may cycle to stand-by as depicted by oval 680.

If the closed loop eye gaze monitoring system determines that theresponse of driver 5 was insufficient, then the closed-loop DVAM systemmay engage the staged alerting system, as described with reference toFIG. 4, and as depicted by oval 690. While specific series of prompts orcues are described herein, other series of prompts or cues may be usedwith embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The operations in the flow chart may be carried outby a control unit executing software as described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. In other embodiments, the operations of the flow chartmay be carried out by a LAAD system, as described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, a convenience message system, or by other systemsassociated with, or separate from, vehicle 10.

Typically, the convenience message system may be maintained in a standbystate until activated. In some embodiments, the convenience messagesystem may include one or more software programs executed by one or morehardware systems in vehicle 10.

In some embodiments, a convenience message system may be enabled onlywhile a LAAD system, or another driving system known in the art, isengaged. In some embodiments, a convenience message system may beconfigured to be enabled even while the LAAD system, or another drivingsystem known in the art, is not engaged.

One or more sensor(s), for example, sensors similar to sensor 130, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 2 a, may be coupled to, or associatedwith, the vehicle 10. Sensors may include a computer vision sensor(e.g., a camera), light detection and ranging RADAR (LIDAR) systems, orlaser RADAR (LADAR) systems. Both RADAR systems typically employ opticalremote sensing technologies that can measure the distance to a target,or other properties of a target, by illuminating the target with light,typically, pulses from a laser. The sensors may also include one or moreRADAR systems, an imager, or other remote sensing devices. The sensorsmay obtain data allowing a system within vehicle 10, e.g., a LAADsystem, or other system known in the art, to determine the relativelocation of vehicle 10 with respect road features, for example, lanemarkers(s), road shoulder(s), median barrier(s), edge of the road andother objects or features. The camera may, for example, measure laneoffset, heading angle, lane curvature and/or other information (e.g.,speed, acceleration, yaw-rate, other driver input etc.) and provide theinformation to vehicle 10.

Vehicle 10 may further include one or more devices or sensors to measurevehicle steering measurements, vehicle steering conditions, vehiclesteering parameters, vehicle dynamics, driver input, or other vehiclerelated conditions or measurements. The vehicle dynamics measurementdevice(s) may include one or more steering angle sensor(s) (e.g.,connected to steering wheel and/or another component of the steeringsystem) and/or steering torque sensor(s) (e.g., a torsion bar, torsionsensor, torquemeter, torque transducer, or other device). Steeringtorque sensor(s) may be connected to or associated with a steeringwheel, a steering column, steering rack and pinion, a vehicle axle,and/or another component of the steering system. The vehicle dynamicsmeasurement device(s) may also include one or more accelerometer(s),speedometer(s), wheel speed sensor(s), inertial measurement unit(s)(IMU), or other devices. The vehicle dynamics measurement device(s) maymeasure vehicle dynamics conditions or driver input including steeringangle, steering torque, steering direction, lateral (e.g., angular orcentripetal) acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, yaw-rate, lateraland longitudinal velocity, speed, wheel rotation, and other vehicledynamics characteristics of vehicle 10. Other sensors known in the art,including both internal and external sensors, may also be coupled tovehicle 10.

In some embodiments, the convenience message system, may, in response tothe cumulative data from these and/or sensors known in the art, asdepicted in operation 310, or in response to other systems associated tovehicle 10, determine that the convenience message system should engage,as depicted in operation 330. The engagement of the convenience messagesystem may be configured to confirm the supervisory role of the driverof vehicle 10—e.g., to confirm that the driver is supervising theoperation of the vehicle and/or paying attention. In some embodiments,the convenience message system may be configured to determine that theconvenience message system should engage, as depicted in operation 330,in response to cumulative data from these sensors, or in response toother systems associated to vehicle 10, as depicted in data operation310, to change the supervisory role of the driver of vehicle 10. If thedata from the sensors, or other systems associated to vehicle 10, do notnecessitate the engagement of the convenience message system, asdepicted in operation 330, then the convenience message system may notengage, as depicted in operation 340, returning to a standby mode.

In some embodiments, the convenience message system may engage, asdepicted in operation 330, if the system determines that a given timeinterval, as depicted in operation 320, between the current time and thelast engagement of the convenience message system is sufficient. Thetime interval may be between 2 and 10 minutes. If the time interval, asdepicted in operation 320, is insufficient, then the convenience messagesystem may not engage, as depicted in operation 350, returning, instead,to a standby mode.

Once the convenience message system has been engaged, as depicted inoperation 330, the convenience message system, in some embodiments, mayproduce a prompt or cue message or signal such as an earcon or othertone, as depicted in operation 370. In other embodiments, the system mayproduce an audio, visual or audiovisual message, as depicted inoperation 360. In some embodiments of the invention, the system mayproduce a tone and/or an audible indication, and an earcon, as depictedin operation 370, and message, as depicted in operation 360. Typically,a message, as depicted in operation 360, may relate to the data from thesensors, as depicted in operation 310, or other vehicle sensors, thatthe data that was determined by the convenience message system to besufficient to engage the convenience message system, as depicted inoperation 330.

In other embodiments, a message, as depicted in operation 360, may beindependent of data from the sensors, as depicted in operation 310, orother vehicle sensors.

In some embodiments, the convenience message system may be part of aclosed-loop system. In the closed-loop convenience message system, thesystem may have feedback sensors to determine if the driver hasresponded to the prompt. In particular, to determine whether theconvenience message system has confirmed and/or changed the supervisoryrole of the driver. The feedback sensors may include a camera (e.g.,sensor 130 in FIG. 2 a). The sensor may determine, for example, thedirection of the driver's gaze. In some embodiments, an interactiveinstrument panel may determine whether the driver has interacted withthe interactive instrument panel and/or other sensors and systems.

In some embodiments, the closed-loop convenience message system may havefeedback sensors in vehicle 10 to determine whether the driver hasresponded to the prompt and/or changed the driver's supervisory role inresponse to an audio prompt or earcon, as depicted in operation 370and/or message, as depicted in operation 360, of the convenience messagesystem. The feedback sensors may include sensors that can determinedriver interaction with primary control systems in vehicle 10,including, but not limited to, the steering wheel, accelerator, andbrake pedal.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The operations in the flow chart may be carried outby a staged alerting system, or by other systems, associated with, orseparate from, vehicle 10. Typically, the staged alerting system may bemaintained in a standby state until activated. In some embodiments, thestaged alerting system may be executed over one or more hardware and/orsoftware systems in vehicle 10.

In some embodiments, the staged alerting system may be enabled onlywhile a LAAD system, or other driving system as known in the art, isengaged. In some embodiments, the staged alerting system may beconfigured to be enabled even while the LAAD system, or other drivingsystem as known in the art, is not engaged.

In some embodiments of the present invention, data from one or more of avehicle's sensors, as described above in reference to FIG. 3, or othervehicle sensors as known in the art, may be collected and measured asdepicted in operation 205. The decision to initiate the staged alertingsystem is determined by the staged alerting system, as depicted inoperation 210, in response to the staged alerting system determining thesufficiency of sensor data collected in operation 205, or alternatively,in response to data collected by other systems, and/or sensorsassociated with vehicle 10. Typically, if it is determined by the stagedalerting system, as depicted in operation 210, that the stage alertingsystem need not be initiated, the staged alerting system may cycle backto a standby mode, as depicted in operation 212. If it is determined, bythe staged alerting system, as depicted in operation 210, that thesensor data collected, as depicted in operation 205, is sufficient forthe staged alerting system to be initiated, the staged alerting systemmay provide an attention cue or prompt to the driver of the vehicle. Thestaged alerting system may, for example, initiate when it detects thatthe driver has not exercised sufficient supervisory control over thevehicle. This detection may be based on the driver's behavior orbiological factors. The driver's behavior being detected may includehead movement, eye movement, verbal actions, body movement, andinteractions with the vehicle. The driver's behavior may further includeinteractions with their smart phone or other device, indicating that thedriver is not exercising sufficient supervisory control.

In some embodiments, sufficiency may be determined by whether theinformation necessitates that the driver change or maintain the driver'ssupervisory role in operating vehicle 10. In some embodiments, thedriver may need to change the driver's supervisory role in operatingvehicle 10 in instances when the staged alerting system, or othervehicle systems known in the art, determine that the driver, using aLAAD system, or other driving system known in the art, is payinginsufficient attention to the operation of the vehicle. Typically, thesensors, coupled to a vehicle driving system known in the art, maydetermine the level or risk related to the current supervisory controlof the vehicle and/or the driver, and calculate what level of driversupervision is required given that risk as depicted in block 207. Insome embodiments, the data for this calculation may come from the sensordata collected, as depicted in operation 205. This level of driversupervision required may be related to the time the driver may look awayfrom the road before being prompted by the staged alerting system oranother vehicle driving system known in the art. In some embodiments,the sensors may indicate an exception, hazardous situation, or anobstacle in the path of the vehicle and may prompt driver 5 via thestaged alerting system or another vehicle driving system known in theart. In some embodiments, the level of driver supervision required orthe level of sufficient supervisory control may be adjustable by thedriver.

In some embodiments, the driver may need to change the driver'ssupervisory role in operating vehicle 10 in instances when the stagedalerting system, or other vehicle systems known in the art, determinethat there is a decision regarding current or upcoming drivingsituations that the driver may want to make. In some embodiments, thedriver may need to change the driver's supervisory role in operatingvehicle 10 in instances when the staged alerting system, or othervehicle systems, determine that the LAAD system, or other drivingsystems known in the art, is not confident in its ability to continue tocontrol some aspect of the vehicle's motion due to some aspect of thecurrent or upcoming driving situation that is outside of its scope ofcapability. In some embodiments, the staged alerting system, or othervehicle systems, may determine that the LAAD system, or other drivingsystems known in the art, is experiencing a fault or lacks the necessarycapabilities to continue to drive the vehicle. Driving situations thatare outside of the scope of the capability of a LAAD system, or otherdriving systems known in the art, may include current lane ending,current lane exits the freeway, and current lane splits to include anexit on the right or left, current lane forks. A LAAD system, or otherdriving systems known in the art, may also not be confident in asituation wherein a vehicle is being followed, the followed vehicletraveling at a speed significantly below the current cruise set speed,and as a result of the employment of an adaptive cruise control system,the driver's vehicle has been traveling at this lower speed for aparticular time period.

In some embodiments of the current invention, a time interval may becalculated, as depicted by operation 214. If the time interval isdetermined to be sufficient by operation 210, then the staged alertingsystem may be engaged. If the time interval is determined to beinsufficient, then typically, the staged alerting system may cycle backto a standby state. The attention cue or prompt, as depicted byoperation 215, may be a light providing illumination similar to thatused with the closed loop DVAM. Further, the interaction between theprompt and the driver response, as depicted in operation 220, may besimilar to that used with the DVAM, described herein.

As depicted in operation 220, the sufficiency of the driver response tothe attention cue or prompt may determine whether the staged alertingsystem cycles back to a standby state, as depicted in operation 225. Ifthe driver's response is insufficient, or in some embodiments, unable tobe determined, as determined by the sensors in the vehicle, the stagedalerting system may continue attempting to alert the driver via anon-visual cue or prompt, as depicted in operation 230.

A non-visual cue or prompt, as depicted as operation 230, may be ahaptic cue or prompt. Typically, the haptic cue or prompt may be fromthe driver's seat or steering wheel. Haptic cues or prompts may includeshaking or vibrating the seat or the steering wheel or both. Otherhaptic cues or prompts known in the art may also be used. In someembodiments, the driver's seat may be equipped with vibrating motors,and/or other haptic inducing mechanics that are known in the art.Typically the haptic inducing mechanics may cause the seat to shake,pulse, vibrate, or another haptic inducement that is known in the art.In some embodiments, the seat may increase lumbar support of the driver,causing the driver to maintain an alert position. In some embodiments,the steering wheel or steering column, or both, may be equipped withvibrating motors, and/or other haptic inducing mechanics that are knownin the art, that may cause the steering wheel to shake, pulse, vibrate,or another haptic inducement that is known in the art. In someembodiments, the gear shifter may be equipped with vibrating motors,and/or other haptic inducing mechanics that are known in the art. Thesehaptic inducing mechanics may cause the gear shifter to shake, pulse,vibrate, or another haptic inducement that is known in the art. Otherdevices in the vehicle may be equipped with other haptic inducingmechanics, such as the brake pedal pulsing or vibrating, for example.

In some embodiments, a non-visual cue or prompt may include a verbalcuing or messaging system, including OnStar or other on-vehicle voicesystem. The verbal messaging system may inform the driver of external orinternal driving conditions, or may prompt the driver to interact withthe vehicle or take notice of a part of the vehicle. Sensors or asensing system may detect a voice response to the verbal messagingsystem or other interactions. The sensing system may detect anddetermine the content of the driver's voice response or detect changesin the driver's speech patterns.

In some embodiments, the staged alerting system may also, in addition tothe haptic cue or prompt, or instead of the haptic cue or prompt,provide an audible or other non-visual cue or prompt, as are known inthe art. Typically, the audible cue or prompt may be generated by thevehicles speakers. In other embodiments, the audible cue or prompt maybe generated by other sources, e.g., a Bluetooth coupled cellulartelephone.

As depicted in operation 240, the sufficiency of the driver response tothe non-visual cue or prompt may be used to determine whether the stagedalerting system cycles back to a standby state, as depicted in operation245. If the driver's response is determined to be insufficient, or insome embodiments, unable to be determined, as determined by sensors inthe vehicle, the staged alerting system may continue attempting to alertthe driver via, for example, a second prompt, e.g., a speech cue orprompt, as depicted in operation 250. The staged alerting system mayfurther change the operation of the LAAD system, or other driving systemknown in the art, such that it may not reengage unless the ignition iscycled. In other embodiments, the LAAD system, or other driving systemknown in the art, may not reengage for a given period of time asdetermined by the staged alerting system.

Typically, operation 250 involves a speech cue or prompt, or anotherform of audible cue or prompt, including an earcon. The speech cue orprompt may be similar to the convenience message system as describedhereinabove with reference to FIG. 2 a. In some embodiments, the speechcue or prompt may be selected from a pre-set list of phrases configuredto elicit a response from the driver of the vehicle, but independent ofthe road or driving conditions. In some embodiments, the speech cue orprompt may be selected from a list of phrases configured to confirm thatthe driver wishes to maintain the driver's current level of supervisorycontrol. In some embodiments, the speech cue or prompt may be selectedfrom a list of phrases configured to determine whether the driver wishesto change the current level of supervisory control. In some embodiments,the speech cue or prompt may be configured to be heard by otherpassengers in the vehicle.

As depicted in operation 260, the sufficiency of the driver response tothe speech cue or prompt may determine whether the staged alertingsystem cycles back to a standby state, as depicted in operation 265. Ifthe driver's response is insufficient, or in some embodiments, unable tobe determined, as determined by sensors in the vehicle, the stagedalerting system may continue attempting to alert the driver via avehicle speed reduction, as depicted in operation 270. If the driver'sresponse is determined to be insufficient, or in some embodiments,unable to be determined, as determined by sensors in the vehicle, thestaged alerting system may change the operation of the LAAD system, orother driving system known in the art, such that it may not reengageunless the ignition is cycled. In other embodiments, the LAAD system, orother driving system known in the art, may not reengage for a givenperiod of time as determined by the staged alerting system.

In some embodiments, operation 270 may involve the staged alertingsystem disengaging the normal longitudinal control systems in vehicle10. In some embodiments, operation 270 may further involve the stagedalerting system slowing the vehicle. The reduction in speed can belimited, for example, to between 10 and 30 miles per hour below theprevailing traffic speed. Other ranges may be used.

In some embodiments, the staged alerting system may be configured tomove the vehicle to the side of the road and stop, and/or to pulse thebrakes as the vehicle is slowed.

As depicted in operation 280, the sufficiency of the driver response tothe speech cue or prompt may determine whether the staged alertingsystem cycles back to a standby state, as depicted in operation 290. Ifthe driver's response is insufficient, or in some embodiments, unable tobe determined, as determined by sensors in the vehicle, the stagedalerting system may bring the vehicle to a complete stop, as depicted inoperation 285.

In some embodiments, once the vehicle has pulled over or stopped, asdepicted in operation 285, the LAAD system, or other driving systemknown in the art, may not reengage unless the ignition is cycled. Inother embodiments, the LAAD system, or other driving system known in theart, may not reengage for a given period of time as determined by thestaged alerting system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the presentinvention. Typically, a driver interaction system, or another vehiclesystem known in the art, is on standby in vehicle 10. A system, e.g.,LAAD 50, or another driving system known in the art, signals driver 5,as depicted by block 410. In some embodiments, LAAD system 50, oranother driving system known in the art, monitors driver 5, and or thesurroundings of driver 5, inside and/or outside of vehicle 10, asdepicted by data collected in parallelogram 420. In some embodiments,driver 5 is monitored and signaled in response to data collected.

The LAAD system 50, or another driving system known in the art,determines, as depicted in diamond 430, whether to activate driverinteraction system, based on data collected, as depicted inparallelogram 420 or, in some embodiments, based on the response ofdriver 5 to the signaling driver 5 by the LAAD system, or anotherdriving system known in the art, as depicted in block 410, or in someembodiments, both.

If the LAAD system 50, or another driving system known in the art,determines that the driver interaction system does not need to beactivated, then the driver interaction system cycles back to standby, asdepicted in oval 440.

If the LAAD system 50, or another driving system known in the art,determines that a driver interaction system needs to be activated, thenthe driver interaction system may be activated and may send a signal(e.g., a prompt, cue, light, etc.) to driver 5, as depicted in block450. In some embodiments, the signals sent to driver 5 may beincreasingly insistent, strong, or intrusive, depending on how manytimes it has been determined by the driver interaction system, oranother system in vehicle 10, that the driver is not paying attention,is not supervising the on board system, or is not responding to thesignal.

In some embodiments, driver interaction system, or another system invehicle 10, determines the nature of the signal to driver 5 based on howlong driver 5 has not been paying attention, is not supervising the onboard system, or is not responding to the signal. In some embodiments,the driver interaction system, or another system in vehicle 10, sends afurther intrusive signal to driver 5, this signal depicted in block 450,based on either how long or how many times it has been determined by thedriver interaction system, or another system in vehicle 10, that driver5 is not paying attention, or both.

The driver interaction system determines whether the response of driver5 to the signal is sufficient (e.g., it is determined that the driver issupervising the on board system, or is responding to the signal), asdepicted in diamond 460. If the driver interaction system, or anotherdriver system known in the art, in vehicle 10 determines that theresponse of driver 5 to the signal is sufficient, then the driverinteraction system, or another system known in the art, cycles back tostandby, as depicted by oval 470. If the driver interaction systemdetermines that the response of driver 5 to the signal is insufficient(e.g., the driver is not supervising the on board system, or is notresponding to the signal), then the driver interaction system, oranother system known in the art, may send a further intrusive signal todriver 5, wherein the further intrusive signal may be increasinglyinsistent, strong, or intrusive, depending on how many times it has beendetermined that driver 5 is not paying attention, or how long driver hasnot been paying attention, as depicted in block 450. Arrows 480 depictthis multiple iteration feedback loop: the driver interaction systemdetermines whether the response of driver 5 to an earlier signal issufficient, as depicted in diamond 460. If the driver interaction systemdetermines that the response of driver 5 to the signal is sufficient,then the driver interaction system may cycle back to standby, asdepicted by oval 470. If the driver interaction system determines thatthe response of driver 5 to the signal is insufficient, then the driverinteraction system may send a further intrusive signal to driver 5,where the signal may be increasingly insistent, strong, or intrusive,depending on how many times it has been determined driver 5 is notpaying attention, or how long driver 5 has not been paying attention, asdepicted in block 450.

In some embodiments of the current invention, the specifics and detailsof the staged alerting system may be optimized to improve driverperformance. In some embodiments, the stages and/or their order of thestages in the staged alerting system may also be adjusted or removedentirely depending on data collected by sensors internal and external tothe vehicle.

Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses forperforming the operations described herein. Such apparatuses may bespecially constructed for the desired purposes, or may include computersor processors selectively activated or reconfigured by a computerprogram stored in the computers. Such computer programs may be stored ina computer-readable or processor-readable non-transitory storage medium,any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs,magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random accessmemories (RAMs) electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs),electrically erasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs),magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable forstoring electronic instructions. It may be appreciated that a variety ofprogramming languages may be used to implement the teachings of theinvention, as described herein. Embodiments of the invention may includean article such as a non-transitory computer or processor readablenon-transitory storage medium, such as for example a memory, a diskdrive, or a USB flash memory encoding, including or storinginstructions, e.g., computer-executable instructions, which whenexecuted by a processor or controller, cause the processor or controllerto carry out methods disclosed herein. The instructions may cause theprocessor or controller to execute processes that carry out methodsdisclosed herein.

Features of various embodiments discussed herein may be used with otherembodiments discussed herein. The foregoing description of theembodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes ofillustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should beappreciated by persons skilled in the art that many modifications,variations, substitutions, changes, and equivalents are possible inlight of the above teaching. It is, therefore, to be understood that theappended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changesas fall within the true spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of driver attention managementcomprising: detecting, by a sensor, characteristics of a driver;determining, based on the detected characteristics of the driver,whether the driver exercises sufficient supervisory control of thevehicle; and providing a series of one or more prompts, wherein eachprompt's intrusiveness is related to the determination of whether thedriver exercises sufficient supervisory control of the vehicle.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein providing a series of one or more promptscomprises: providing a first prompt with a low level of intrusiveness;determining whether the driver responds to the prompt, therebyindicating whether the driver exercises sufficient supervisory controlof the vehicle; and if the driver fails to adequately respond to theprompt, providing subsequent prompts with increasing levels ofintrusiveness until the driver responds to the prompt.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein determining whether the driver responds to the promptis based on whether the driver responds to the prompt within apredetermined time period.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein determiningwhether the driver responds to the prompt is based on whether thedriver's head or eye gaze turns toward the prompt in a predeterminedtime interval.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether thedriver responds to the prompt is based on whether the driver's head oreye gaze moves through a certain pattern or signature in a predeterminedtime interval.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the series of one ormore prompts includes at least one of: a pattern of visual signals, apattern of audio signals, a pattern of haptic cues, or messages to beread by the driver.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein sufficientsupervisory control is based on at least one of: the vehicle's externalenvironment, upcoming driving decisions, and a level of autonomyemployed by an autonomous driving system.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein detecting characteristics of a driver includes detectingbehavioral and biological characteristics of the driver.
 9. The methodof claim 8, wherein behavioral characteristics includes at least one of:head movement, eye movement, verbal actions, body movement, andinteractions with the vehicle.
 10. The method of claim 8, whereinbiological characteristics includes at least one of: heart rate,breathing rate, and temperature.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein theseries of prompts includes messages containing information on items ofinterest to the driver.
 12. A driver attention management systemcomprising: a sensor to detect characteristics of a driver; a processorto determine, based on the detected characteristics of the driver,whether the driver exercises sufficient supervisory control of thevehicle; a prompter to provide a series of one or more prompts, whereineach prompt's intrusiveness is related to the determination of whetherthe driver exercises sufficient supervisory control of the vehicle. 13.The driver attention management system of claim 12, wherein: theprompter is further to provide a first prompt with a low level ofintrusiveness; the processor is to determine whether the driver respondsto the prompt, thereby indicating whether the driver exercisessufficient supervisory control of the vehicle; and if the driver failsto adequately respond to the prompt, the prompter is to providesubsequent prompts with increasing levels of intrusiveness until thedriver responds to the prompt.
 14. The driver attention managementsystem of claim 13, wherein the processor is to determine whether thedriver responds to the prompt based whether the driver responds to theprompt within a predetermined time period.
 15. The driver attentionmanagement system of claim 12, wherein the prompter is to provide atleast one of: a pattern of visual signals, a pattern of audio signals,or a pattern of haptic cues.
 16. The driver attention management systemof claim 12, wherein the processor is to determine sufficientsupervisory control based on at least one of: the vehicle's externalenvironment, upcoming driving decisions, and a level of autonomyemployed by an autonomous driving system.
 17. The driver attentionmanagement system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is to detect at leastone of: head movement, eye movement, verbal actions, body movement, andinteractions with the vehicle.
 18. A driver attention managementapparatus, comprising: an autonomous driving system to assist a driverin controlling a vehicle; a prompting system to prompt the driver; asensing system to detect the driver's responses to the prompting system;a processor to determine whether the driver is exercising sufficientsupervisory control of the vehicle, according to the level of autonomyemployed by the autonomous driving system.
 19. The driver attentionmanagement apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is to determinewhether the driver is exercising sufficient supervisory control of thevehicle based on the detected responses to the prompting system.
 20. Thedriver attention management apparatus of claim 18, wherein the promptingsystem is to prompt the driver with increasing intrusiveness if thedriver fails to exercise sufficient supervisory control of the vehicle.